For the second year in a row at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Kyle Larson was trying to catch Ryan Blaney for the win.
And, just like last year, Larson went a bit too far, spinning out of second place with 13 laps left.
It was surprising that Larson was even in the race for the win after he had a flat tire on lap 47, which put him at the back of the field. After several pit stops and adjustments, he managed to climb back into the top five and eventually reached second place.
However, his aggressive move to get between Blaney and the lapped car of Austin Dillon might cost the 2021 champion more than just the win.
Despite spinning out, Larson’s skillful control of the throttle meant he only dropped one position. However, the damage to his car’s diffuser forced his pit crew to take extra time for repairs, causing him to lose several spots on pit road.
When the race ended, Larson finished in 13th place with a total of 24 points. While this wasn’t the worst result considering his early problems, it was still disappointing.
Larson’s late spin puts him in a tough spot as he seeks his second championship. In his previous two Championship Four appearances, he secured his spot in the championship race by winning the first race of the Round of 8.
This time was different, as Larson faced multiple issues on pit road during the race in Las Vegas on October 20, leading to an 11th-place finish after a difficult struggle.
Larson’s performance in the first two races of this round puts him in a tough spot as the series moves to Martinsville for the next-to-last race of the season. He is currently fifth on the playoff grid, seven points behind his teammate William Byron, who holds the last transfer spot.
Larson’s position is mainly due to a series of unfortunate events that have affected the No. 5 team over the past two weeks. However, there have also been many missed chances throughout the season that have contributed to his difficult situation.
His choice to race in the rain-delayed Indianapolis 500 on May 26 instead of starting NASCAR’s Coca-Cola 600 turned out to be a key factor. This decision allowed Tyler Reddick, who won the Miami race, to claim the regular-season championship after the Southern 500 at Darlington.
Because of this choice, Larson missed out on five extra playoff points that went to Reddick. If Larson had those points, he would only be two points behind Byron for the final spot.
Additionally, a flat tire at Kansas in the opening race of the Round of 12 kept Larson from competing for the win at one of his best tracks. An overly aggressive move at Michigan in August also caused him to spin out and finish in 34th place.
At Iowa, while trying to move back up through the field, Larson found himself in a three-wide situation, which led to a crash and another 34th-place finish.
In Chicago, Larson lost control on the wet streets and crashed into a tire barrier, finishing in 39th place. A crash in the first playoff race at Atlanta also took away his chance to earn important playoff points, which could determine whether he moves on to the Championship Four or watches his teammate do so instead.
All these events have led Larson to where he is now, needing an outstanding performance to reach the Championship Four for the third time in four seasons.
Larson won at Martinsville in April 2023, but his main rival, Byron, won during the Cup Series’ first visit to the track on April 7.
In Sunday’s race, Larson faces a crucial challenge — the opportunity to secure a spot in the Championship Four is within reach. However, he also has to be careful not to take unnecessary risks that could derail his chances.
